Donnie Nietes poses beside the photo of Komgrich Nantapech, his opponent in Pinoy Pride 40: Donnie Nation set on April 29 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino. (CDN PHOTO/CHRISTIAN MANINGO)
To say that he is an accomplished boxer is an outright understatement but Donnie Nietes is not one to sit on his laurels.
To show that he has more to offer, Nietes vowed to pull off an impressive win when he takes on Thailand’s Komgrich Nantapech in Pinoy Pride 40: Donnie Nation scheduled on April 29 at the Pacific Grand Ballroom of the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.
The 34-year-old Nietes, a native of Murcia town, Negros Occidental, is looking to become a three-division world champion as at stake in the fight is the vacant IBF World flyweight title.
Interestingly, the venue of the upcoming fight is the same place where Nietes won his first world title 10 years ago—the WBO world minimum weight belt which he won against Thai Pornsawan Porpramook.
“It’s good to fight again here in Cebu because 10 years ago, I won my first world title here, specifically at the Waterfront. It feels extra special for me so I promise to all boxing fans that I will win the fight convincingly,” said Nietes (39W-1L-4D- 22KOs) in a press conference last Friday night at Saint Mark’s Hotel.
The last time Nietes fought in Cebu was in 2015 when he defended his WBO world light flyweight title against former world champion Francisco Rodriguez Jr., also at the Waterfront.
“It’s been a while since I last fought here in Cebu and I feel that a lot of boxing fans want to see me fight again here, that’s why on April 29 I will do my best to win convincingly,” said Nietes.
Nietes expressed confidence he can knock out his opponent.
“I have sparred with bigger boxers and I am delighted to say that even though I moved to a heavier division, I am able to maintain my speed and I feel that I am more powerful now, so I am confident that I can knock out Nantapech,” said Nietes.
Nantapech (22W-3L-0D-15KOs), who is seven years younger than Nietes, is undefeated since 2013. He is on a 15-fight winning streak and ranked number four in the IBF regular flyweight division.
Nietes’ trainer Edmund Villamor said Nantapech is a dangerous opponent owing to his a knockout power.
“He’s not an easy opponent that’s why I told Donnie not to be complacent and reckless in this fight,” said Villamor. “But still I trust Donnie, he knows how to handle his opponents very well and as far as I have seen in his training, he’s getting better and better as the fight draws near.”
Villamor said Nantapech has similar styles with Milan Melindo’s Thai foe Fahlan Sakkrareen Jr. Nantapech and Sakkrareen Jr. happen to be stable mates in Thailand.
Zou Shiming next?
A successful outing on April 29 may forge a unification bout between Nietes and Chinese boxing superstar Zou Shiming, who is the WBO world flyweight champion.
“It’s part of the plans for Nietes this year. That’s why a win against Nantapech is important to make the unification bout a reality. In fact, the initial plan before we sealed a fight with Nantapech was to snatch Shiming’s world title, but the IBF ordered Nietes to fight for the vacant IBF world title,” said Edito Villamor, one of Nietes’ trainers and ALA Promotions International’s match maker.